Getting Your Home Ready for Winter: Curtains, Draughts and Cosy Evenings

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, and with them goes the last of the light evenings. It is the moment most of us notice the chill creeping in: a cold spot by the window, a whistle under the front door, a living room that never quite feels warm once the sun has gone. The good news is that a few considered changes, most of them about fabric, make a real difference to how warm and welcoming a home feels through the darker months. Here is how we approach it, room by room.

Start with the windows

Windows are where a warm room most often loses its comfort, and curtains are the simplest way to put a layer between you and the cold glass. A thermal-lined curtain works as a soft barrier: drawn at dusk, it holds the warmth of the room in and keeps the draught off your shoulders when you are sitting nearby.

If you are choosing just one pair this autumn, a lined blackout curtain is the hardest-working option. The Olivia Rocco Thermal Blackout Curtains combine a dense thermal lining with full light blocking and come in twelve colours, so they suit a bedroom as well as a lounge. Darker evenings are also darker mornings, and a properly dark bedroom helps when the alarm goes off before sunrise.

A few fitting tips that make all the difference

Size matters more than most people realise. Choose curtains wider than the window so the fabric overlaps the frame on each side when closed, and let them fall at least to the sill, or to the floor for the snuggest fit. Avoid letting curtains hang over a radiator below the window, as they will trap the heat behind them rather than letting it into the room. And make it a habit to close them as soon as the light goes, not when you head to bed.

Add texture and colour for the season

Practical does not have to mean plain. Winter is the season for richer fabrics, and a textured curtain changes the whole mood of a room once the lamps are on. The Olivia Rocco Paris Jacquard Eyelet Curtains in Sage Green have a woven geometric pattern you can feel as well as see, backed with a thermal lining. Sage green is a calm, natural choice that sits well with warm wood and cream.

For something with more drama, velvet is hard to beat in winter. The Olivia Rocco Luxe Geo Velvet Eyelet Curtains in Teal pair a jewel-toned velvet with a contemporary geometric pattern, and their thermal lining also helps soften outside noise and darken the room. They are a lovely choice for a sitting room or snug where you spend long evenings.

Stop the cold at the front door

The front door takes a beating in winter, letting in cold air every time it opens and wet footprints with every visitor. Two simple habits help: deal with the gaps, and deal with what comes in on people's shoes.

Check the door for daylight around its edges and under the bottom; if you can see light, cold air is finding its way in, and a draught excluder or brush strip is worth fitting. Then think in two layers of matting. A tough coir mat outside, such as the Coir Solid Design Mat, traps dirt and moisture before it reaches the hallway. Inside, a mat you can simply throw in the wash makes muddy months far less of a chore: the Stockholm Grey/Clay Washable Mat is machine washable at 30°C and has a slip-resistant backing, which matters on a wet hallway floor.

Warm up the floors

Hard floors look beautiful but feel cold underfoot from October onwards. A rug is the quickest fix, adding warmth you can feel the moment you step on it, and it softens footsteps too, which makes a home feel calmer. The Loft Striped Brown Rug has a textured high-low pile in rich brown and cream stripes, and it is easy to keep clean with a vacuum. Place rugs where you stand or sit most: in front of the sofa, beside the bed, or along a chilly hallway.

Layer up for cosy evenings

Once the windows and doors are sorted, the fun part begins. A generous throw folded over the arm of the sofa is an invitation to curl up, and it means you can stay comfortable without reaching for the thermostat. The Olivia Rocco Mink Faux Fur Velvet Touch Throw is wonderfully soft and comes in eight colourways, from silver and charcoal to plum and emerald green.

Swapping cushion covers is the easiest way to give a room a seasonal refresh. If you have chosen the sage jacquard curtains, the Olivia Rocco Paris Cushion Covers in Sage Green tie the scheme together neatly.

Light and scent: the finishing touches

When it is dark by teatime, lighting does a lot of the work in making a room feel warm. Swap a single bright ceiling light for several low pools of light at different heights. A cordless lamp is especially useful because you can move it wherever the evening takes you: the Zack Myna Rechargeable LED Table Lamp gives a soft, glare-free warm white light, is fully dimmable and runs for up to seven hours on a charge.

Finally, scent. A reed diffuser fills a room gently without a flame to watch, and spicy, warm notes feel just right at this time of year. The Eco Bath London Vanilla Cinnamon Reed Diffuser is a cosy companion for a hallway or living room through to Christmas.

Your quick winter-ready checklist

• Close curtains as soon as it gets dark, not just at bedtime.
• Make sure curtains are wide and long enough, and keep them off radiators.
• Check doors for gaps and fit an excluder where you can see daylight.
• Use a coir mat outside and a washable mat inside the front door.
• Add rugs where you stand and sit most on hard floors.
• Keep a throw on the sofa and refresh your cushion covers.
• Replace the big overhead light with lamps and soft, warm lighting.

Frequently asked questions

Do thermal curtains really make a room feel warmer?

A thermal lining adds an extra layer between the room and the window, which helps reduce the chill you feel near the glass and keeps the room feeling cosier once the curtains are drawn. They work best when they are generously sized and closed as soon as it gets dark.

What size curtains should I buy?

Measure the width of your curtain pole or track rather than the window, then choose curtains that give a fuller look when closed. For the drop, measure from the pole down to the sill or to the floor, depending on the look you want.

Can I put curtains over a radiator?

It is best not to. Curtains hanging over a radiator trap the warmth behind them and send it up towards the window. If your radiator sits below the window, sill-length curtains are the better choice.

Are blackout curtains only for bedrooms?

Not at all. Blackout curtains with a thermal lining are just as useful in a living room, and they are a great choice for a TV room where you want to cut glare.

What is the easiest way to make a room feel cosy?

Layer textures and soften the lighting. A throw, a few cushions, a rug and a lamp or two will transform a room far more than any single large purchase.